Record controlled computing machine



Nov; 7, 1944. A. H. DICKINSON 2,361,995

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AITORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1944 RECORD CONTROLLED COIiIPUTING MACHINE Arthur H. Dickinson, Scar sdale, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. a corporation of New York Application May 1, 1943, Serial No. 485,316

7 Claims.

This invention relates to computing machines and more particularly to the type controlled by perforated cards and provided with calculating or computing mechanisms for carrying out different computations under control of the cards or records.

The present improvements are directed particularly to improvements in such machines for selectively calling the different computing mechanisms into operation according to the different requirements.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a computing selecting mechanism under record control so that the record or card controlling the computation will determine the type of computation to be performed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a calculating machine which is capable of performing the different computations;

A X B,

tions representing the amounts involved in the computation, and in this respect a further improvment consists in th provision of feeding two cards concurrently, the leading card to the analying station for analysis of the amounts involved in the computation and the following card to the current feeding of two cards, one to control the previously selected computation, and the other to establish a setup of the selection of the next computation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means to cause the automatic entry of the C amount represented on the card when the computing selecting mechanism conditions the machine for the computation presensing station to determine the typeof computation to be performed under control of the card coordinated with the presensing station.

Considerable saving in machine time accrues from this arrangement because it enables a setup of the selecting mechanism for the different computing mechanisms to be made for a following card during the cycle that the amounts on the leading card are derived and this setup is to be maintained during the cycles of operation that consists of a card feeding cycle causing the con- AXB C This enables each card to receive a C amount, if so desired, and utilize it only in the computation in which this third amount is involved and disregard such amount in effecting the computation of multiplication or division.

A further improvement relates to simplification of prior devices relating to the denominational shift for the entry of the dividend and divisor in effecting division. It is understood that in division computations the subtraction of the divisor from the dividend requires the proper ordinal relationship and previously such amounts were presensed by analyzing means for the presence of zeros at the left and in accordance with their denominational magnitude the divisor and dividend entry was shifted so that the highest denominationally ordered digits occupied the extreme left orders of the divisor and dividend re ceiving devices.

In the present arrangement the divisor and dividend entries are made in the respective receiving devices without regard to their denominational size, and obviously their coordinated readouts stand in this same digital representation.

The improved arrangement provides for the sensing of the divisor and dividend readouts to determine the denominational magnitude of the digital representations thereof and in accordance with the denominational sizes shift or route the entries from the readouts by altering the wiring connections from the orders of the readouts. The ultimate result is precisely the same as in prior record controlled dividing computing mechanisms but is attained in a much simpler manner, facilitating wiring of the machine and enabling the removal of parts heretofore considered essential.

The improved arrangement can be used to store the dividend and divisor amounts in storage units, and then by sensing such units for determination of the denominational magnitude, the divisor and dividend amounts can be read out of such storage units and routed to other receiving devices in proper denominational order for determining how many multiples of the divisor are contained in the dividend amount for securing and determining a quotient digit.

The present arrangement can also be advantageously utilized in the specific form of dividing mechanism herein shown. The value of the divisor is set up in all digital multiples thereof on one side of a comparing unit, and the value of the comparison portion of the dividend is set up in a plurality of comparing units. The denominational shifting means intermediate the divisor comparing units and the readout for the received divisor amount and th denominational shifting means intermediate the dividend comparing units and the readout for the received dividend amount correlate the orders of the comparing units for comparing of all digital multiples of the divisor with the comparison portion of the dividend in proper denominational relationship.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 1a taken together with Fig. 1a to the right of Fig. 1 show a. somewhat diagrammatic view of the various units of the machine and the drive therefor.

Figs. 2a to Zn inclusive, taken together show the complete circuit diagram of the machine when arranged according to the diagram of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a. diagram (on the sheet showing Fig. la) indicating the manner of assembly of Figs. 2a-2h comprising the wiring diagram.

Fig. 4 is a timing diagram showing the timing of the various CC cams.

Fig. 5 is a timing diagram of the FC cams.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the KC cams.

Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram indicating the cyclic operations of the machine when multiplying, dividing and computations are successively effected, multiplication being normally performed and the other two computing mechanisms being selected by the card controllin the computation.

Fig. 8 is a diagram of the plugboard connections made to effect the A, B and C entries and also the plugboard connections made to eilect the selection of the different computing means under record control.

Fig. 9 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of a multiplying computation and how the machine performs such multiplication.

Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of a dividing computation and how the machine performs a dividing computation.

Fig. 11 is a flow diagram showing the manner of entering factors of a AXB C Machine drive Referring first to Figs. 1 and 1a, in general the machine comprises five accumulating units which are respectively designated SP, LQ, RD, ML, and MP. It may be explained that the unit ML contains accumulators and readouts from which all of the nine digital multiples of the divisor or multiplicand can be derived depending upon whether the machine is used for division. multiplication, or

XB C computation. The MP receiving device receives the multiplier upon entry in the multiplying or A B C calculation. Such unit is not utilized in a dividing computation of AXB C computation RD receives the product of AXB.

The SP unit is utilized in receiving the "C factor of a computation. The various accumulating units are driven by the gearing delineated from the driving motor M. The machine is also provided with a direct current generator DC. Th card handling and feeding section or the machine is of customary form like that shown in Daly Patent No. 2,045,437 and is driven in the usual manner. The FC cam contacts FC2I8 (Fig. 1a) are also driven in the customary manner in synchronism with the drive of the card handling section of the machine. The units designated CY, N-R, are electromechanical relay setup units of the general construction shown in Figs. 16 and 17 of Patent No. 2,295,448, issued to J. W. Bryce et al. Each of these units is adapted for reset from the constantly running drive shaft by the customary one revolution clutch arrangement. The reset magnets for the units are re spectively designated 32 ICY, 32 lN-R. The comparin units are shown diagrammatically at CUCU. These comparing units are of the form shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive of the patent to Bryce et al. No. 2,295,448, and such units are adapted to be driven from the drive shaft by the use of the well-kn0wn one-revolution clutch, the clutch magnet being designated 2. Also driven from the main drive shaft are the usual CC cams designated CCI40 and the impulse distributor 306. In addition there are also provided eight impulse emitters which are designated 3, 3. H4, 322, H0, 315, 348, 3-50 and SIZ.

Accumulators and entry receiving devices As stated, the SP, LQ, RD, ML and MP units aseneco are accumulators of electromechanical type. These accumulators are identical in construction except for the number of readout sections, some accumulators having four readout sections and others having less. The accumulator which is here employed may be of various types known in the art, more particularly the type of accumuand described in Lake and Pfafi' Patent No..

2,232,006, dated February 18, 1941.

' lnsertible plugboard The insertible plugboard construction is of a type known in the art and the insertible plug unit is generally indicated at 141 in Fig. 18 of Patent No. 2,295,448. Devices of this type are generally known as automatic'plugboards and a suitable form of such plugboard is shown and fully described in the patent to C. D. Lake, No. 2,111,118, dated March 15, 1938. Such automatic plugboard arrangement comprises a series of relatively fixed machine sockets to which the fixed machine wiring is connected. Adapted for cooperation with such sockets are plug prongs carried by a replaceable plugboard assembly or unit. Such plug prongs on the replaceable board are in turn connected to plug sockets upon the replaceable board. These plugboard sockets may be in turn plugged up by the operator selectively at will or the entire board may be pre-plugged with a desired set of connections.

The manner in which the replaceable plugboard unit I is wired and plugged for the form of control described herein is shown in Fig. 8.

It may be explained that the plu socket reference numerals used on the circuit diagram of Fig. 2a-2h are the same as those used on the diagrammatic plugboard view of Fig. 8.

Cam timing diagrams The cam timing diagrams, Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are self-explanatory. It should be noted that the cams controlling the CC cam contacts of Fig. 4 make one revolution for each machine cycle. The cams controlling the FC cam contacts of Fig. 5 when called into operation make one revolution for each card feed cycle which comprises two machine cycles. XC cam contacts of Fig. 6 when called into operation make one revolution for three machine cycles.

Such XC cam contacts are driven from the drive shaft through a one-revolution clutch which is controlled by magnet 3H2 (Fig. 1). The drive side of the one-revolution clutch receives its drive from the main drive shaft 58 through the gearing shown which drives the KC cams one revolution for each three revolutions of the main drive shaft. Operation utilizing plugboard shown in Fig. 8

This figure shows plug connections to be made The cams controlling the and during the card feed cycle.

when the machine is to be set for normal multiplying computations, the

' AXB B 0 2 computations being effected when the cards controlling the computation are significantly perforated in the control column. For simplification it will be assumed that the first card is not significantly perforated in the control column which calls for multiplying, the second card calls for dividing, and the third calls for the AXB G computation.

Multiplying The operation of the machine will first be explained with reference to multiplying. In explaining multiplying the manner in which multiples of an entered amount are built up and stored in the machine will be set forth but these multiple building up operations are equally applicable to the building up of the divisor in dividing computations and in the AX C.

computation.

Before describing multiplying operations it may be stated that the circuit diagram of the instant application has been shown with a certain columnar capacity. For simplicity of illustration the capacity as shown by the circuit diagram. is two columns by two columns, but it will be appreciated that in actual practice, the machine may have a greater columnar capacity. Greater columnar capacity is derived primarily by a duplication of orders of accumulators, readouts, and increased number of entry circuits.

It will be assumed that a set of record cards is in place in the supply magazine of the machine.

The operator then closes switch 300, supplying current to driving motor M (Fig. 2b). With the main driving motor M in operation the DC generator marked DC (Fig. 271) is set in operation supplying current to around and to DC line 30!. The operator now depresses start key 302 (Fig. 2d) and a circuit is completed from ground through the F03 contacts through relay contacts Fl, through the start key contacts back through relay coil E to line 30L Relay coil E upon being energized is maintained energized by a stick circuit through relay contacts El and-cam contacts F02.- The energization of relay coil E closes relay contacts E2 and a circuit is completed from' ground, through cam contacts C029, through the punch controlled contacts Pl (Fig. 2d) and the E2 contacts now closed, through the JJ 2 contacts, through the stop key contacts 303 now closed,

through the card feed clut"h. magnet 304, back through the DI contacts in the position shown to line 3M. A card is now fed by the card feeding and handling section of the machine (Fig. 2)

When the first card is brought to a position about to be analyzed by brushes 308 the first card will have been analyzed by the presensing brushes 3' to determine the computation to be performed in a manner to be subsequently explained. It is explained here that the absence of a perforation in the control column will enable the machine to remain on its normal status for effecting a multiplying operation of AXB. In starting up the machine On a run of cards, the start key must be maintained depressed for two card feed cycles or it may be depressed and released and redepressed. During the initial card feed cycle certain idle operations occur which may be merely alluded to. The RD accumulator is reset to zero and circuits of the machine are conditioned just as if a prodnot amount were to be punched. Punching does not occur at this time, however, because there is no product to record and the card has not reached the punch.

Late in the second machine cycle of the card feed cycle, the card lever contacts 305 close bringme about an energization of relay coil G (Fig. Energization of relay coil G brings about closure of relay contacts Gl (Fig. 2c) which affords current supply to the FCB contacts. These contacts upon closure permit current to be supplied to the impulse distributor 306 from which current impulses flow to the card feed and contact roll m, sti

plug sockets generally designated 309.

Upon redepression or maintained depression of the start key and with relay coil G energized in the manner previously explained, relay contacts G2 (Fig, So) will become closed and a circuit will be established not only to the card feed clutch -.agnet 305 in the manner previously traced, but a branch circuit will be established through the contacts now in the position shown, through the now Closed G2 contacts, to a supplemental clutch magnet 1H2. This supplemental clutch r .gnet all (Fig. l) releases for rotation the g up of XO cams which rotate one revolution for the three subsequent machine cycles. During the second card feed cycle the card passes between the brushes 308 and contact roll 30'! and the MC and lVlP, or A and B amounts on the card are analyzed and entered in the respective accumulators. (See Fig. 7). During the entry portion of this XC cycle, cam contacts XCI close to energize relay coil K (Fig. 2d). With relay coil K energized; the Kl8 contacts (Fig. 2a) become closed. The multiplicand amount is entered under control of the related analyzing brushes 308, plug connections between plug sockets 309 and the 3| i plug sockets (Figs. 2a and 8) through the WWI-2 contacts, down through the now closed Kl--8 contacts. The amount of the multiplicand is entered into the following multiple receiving devices MLl--2, ML3--6, ML5, ML! and MLS. On the circuit diagram the prefix reference numeral 3I3 refers to the accumulator magnets of these multiple receiving devices. At this point it may be explained that the multiple receiving devices are commonly used for both multiplying operations and for dividing operatons. On multiplication, these multiple receiving devices are used to build up and store nine different multiples of the multiplicand and on division the same multiple receiving devices are used to store nine different multiples of the divisor. The multiple receiving devices have been previously described; these are in the form of electrically controlled accumulators with electrical readouts. The MLl-2, MLS-S and MLl-S receiving devices are provided with doubling readouts in addition to the usual straight readouts. The other multiple receiving devices are provided with straight readouts only. On the entry portion of the feed cycle, as explained, the amount of the multiplicand or A amount, is entered into five of the multiple receiving devices concurrently.

Before describing how the multiples of the The usual regular analyzing brushes 3130 are provided which are connected to multiplicand are built up, it may be stated that the multiplier or B amount is entered in the following manner. The multiplier enters under control of the related analyzing brushes 308, through plug connections between plug sockets 309 and plug sockets ll 0 (Figs. 8 and 2e) through the DA l-o contacts now in the position shown through the MEI-4 contacts now in the position shown, to the SISMP accumulator magnets and to ground. The amount of the multiplier is thus entered into the multiplier receiving device.

coincidentally with this set up of the multipiier in the multiplier receiving device there is a setup of the cycle controller and this setup is made according to the presence of significant digits in the multiplier amount. Assuming 27 to be the amount of the multiplier. at the Y index point in the cycle, the gror den 9.13:). relay (Fig. file) coil is energized and 1e 2" index point the grounded ADt relay coil energized. and refer to the units and tens columnar orders.

During the entry cycle, controls are set up to cut off the start ltey control circuit and to also maintain the operation of the machine under record card control. Referring now to Fig. 20!, early in the entry cycle cam contacts FC4 close, energizing relay F. F being energized, it is maintained energized by a stick circuit which is completed through contacts FI and cam contacts FC3. The shift of the Fi contacts cuts oil the circuit to the start key contacts 802. Energize.- tion of F closes contacts F2 to maintain a stick circuit for relay coils F and G either through F03 or the card lever contacts 305.

Building up of multiples It has been previously explained that on the entry cycle, the multiplicand amount was entered into MLl-2, ML3-6, MLB, ML! and ML9. On the machine cycle following the entry cycle, there occurs the first step in the building up of further multiples. (See Fig. 7.) As stated, the

MLl--2 device is provided with a doubling read-,

out. This is designated MLR|2 on Fig. 2b. In this machine cycle cam contacts XCZ (Fig. 2d) close, energizing relay coil L. With relay coil L energized, relay contacts Ll--l2 (Fig. 2a) close and current supply is afforded for the adding emitter 3 as follows: From line 301 (Fig. 212), through contacts MMI, and ML! in the position shown, thence to emitter 3. From emitter 3 the impulses flow over to the transverse buses of the doubling section of MLRl--2, down through the piloting section of this readout and out via a group of lines generally designated 3l5. From these lines the impulses flow down through the LI-.I2 contacts (Fig. 2a) which are now closed and ultimately reach the ML3-6, MM-l, ML5 and ML9 accumulators or multiple receiving devices. This operation will have completed the building up of the 3 multiple in ML36.

On the following machine cycle, the cam contacts X03 (Fig. 2d) close, energizing relay coil M and causing closure of contacts MI-l2 (Fig. 2a) With the emitter 3 in operation the times 2 multiple of the multiplicand is read out from MLRI-2 and flows via lines (5 and through the Ml-B contacts to the ML4-8 and the ML5 accumulators. This will have completed the setting of the 4 and 5 multiples on these receiving devices. During the same cycle in which these entries are being made, the 6 multiple of the multiplicand is read out from the doubling readout section of MLR3-8 and such 6 multiple flows a,ae1,oae

It may be explained that as long as the mavia lines C(Hgs. 2b, 2!, 2e and 2a), through the Ml-l 2 contacts and finally reaches the ML! and MLireceiving devices. This operation will have completed the setting up of the 9 multiple on ML! and the setting up of the 7 multiple on ML'I. The multiple building up operations are now complete.

During-the second card feed cycle, the record card from which the factors were read is advanced to the punch tray in the usual manner. Upon reaching this tray, the contacts 3 close (Fig. 2d) to energize relaycoil D. The energization oi relay coil D shifts relay contacts DI to a reverse position from that shown cutting off current supply from the card feed clutch magnet 3M and providing current supply for the punch rack trip magnet 3l8 upon closure of cam contacts CCI with contacts P3 and relay contacts Bl closed. The relay contacts Bl become closed upon energization of relay coil B upon closure of the customary last column punch contacts P5. With punch rack trip magnet 3i8 energized, contacts 319 become closed and remain latched closed in the customary manner by latch 320 (Fig. 2b). Current supply is then provided for the punch driving motor PM and endwise card feed occurs in the usual way to feed the card to the first computation result punching position.

LQ reset With relay coils B and D energized in the manner previously explained relay contacts B2 and D2 (Fig. 2e) become closed. Upon closure of cam contacts CC21, current will flow from the 3M line through these contacts through the relay contacts AK2 now in the position shown, down through the now closed B2 contacts, the HHZ contacts now closed, the D2 contacts now closed to and through the 32ILQ reset relay coil to ground. Reset will then be effected of the LQ which is wired in a nines complementary manner to the LQR readout. Complemental impulses representative of the nines complement of the amount standing in LQ flow through the now shifted LQ3-6 contacts, through the set of lines generally designated 323 to the 3I3LQ accumulator magnets and back to ground (see also Fig. 2g). By thus introducing the nines complement of the amount standing in LQ the accumulator elements are restored to a 9 position. To bring the accumulator to zero from the all 9 position, an elusive 1 is entered in the units order at the carry time in the cycle. This entry is provided through .the contacts LQ'I which are closed in the manner previously explained. This impulse is supplied in the following manner: From line 30!, through cam contacts CCi6, (Fig. 2g) via line 324, through the LQT contacts, through the normal carry relay contacts AV4 controlled by relay coil AV (Fig. 2d) down to the units order of the (HQ magnets. The units order is thus advanced one step and the electric transfer devices of the accumulator cause ad vance of all the other higher orders one step.

- chine is operating, cam contacts CO2 close once each machine cycle at 'the carry time in the operation of the accumulators. Such closure of cam contacts CCZ energizes relay coil AV (Fig. 2d). The energization of coil AV closes contacts AVI4, and AV59 (Fig. 2g), AVlil-Il (Fig.2e),AVl2-28 (Fig. 2a) and AWE-30 (Fig. 20), which are respectively associated with the LQ, RD, MP, ML and SP accumulators. Since coil AV becomes energized once each machine cycle the aforementioned relay contacts thus close at the carry time. The closure of these contacts permits the electric carry devices to be effective for performing carry operations whenever they are required in their related accumulators.

During LQ reset, provision is made to prevent repetition of such reset. This repeat reset preventing means is provided for as follows: During LQ reset; the LQ8 contacts are closed (Fig. 2d). Accordingly, when cam contacts 006 close, a circuit is provided from ground through the LQ8 contacts, through 006, either through relay contacts AK3 or through the AN3 contacts to relay coil HH. Relay coil HH becoming energized, establishes its stick circuit through contacts HHI and the punch controlled contacts P2 now closed.

-On Fig. 2c, the relay contacts HHZ open and thus interrupt the reset initiating circuit to BZILQ.

Computing operations of the machine, that is to say, the adding of selected multiples of the multiplicand into the product receiving device, are initiated by LQ reset. From the LQB contacts, (FigrZd) a branch circuit extends to contacts CC! and upon closure of these cam contacts, relay coil JJ is energized, relay contacts H2 bein now closed. JJ once being energized is maintained energized by a stick circuit through contacts JJI, through the reset contacts ML3 and back to ground. Coil JJ is the computing initiating control.

With the present machine for multiplying, multiplication is effected by entering into the dual product receiving devices multiples of the mulplicand from the multiple readout devices. The selection of multiples is made under the control of the MPR readout according to the amount of the multiplier standing in the MP receiving device. Inasmuch as the multiple receiving devices and readouts associated therewith provide all nine digital multiples of the multiplicand, it is possible to enter two multiples pertaining to two different orders of the multiplier concurrently into the separate sections of the result receiving devices. While multiple selection is ailorded by the MPR readout for such concurrent entry there are supplemental entry controls afforded by the cycle controller. The cycle controller ascertains in which columns of the multiplier there are significant digits and 

